New Zealand PM: We will become republic

New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark has restated her belief that the country will eventually seek its own destiny and become a

republic.

She made the comments shortly after meeting the Prince of Wales during his tour of the remote Commonwealth islands.

The premier said the changes were unlikely to be made any time soon, but it was inevitable that New Zealand would have its own head of state rather than the British monarch.

"At some point, this country, 12,000 miles away, will seek its own destiny," she said in an interview with the BBC.

"I can see a future where New Zealand will select its own head of state but I don't see it any time soon."

Ms Clark, who has often been outspoken about her republican beliefs, met Charles at Government House in the capital Wellington, where he took part in a traditional welcome ceremony with fearsome Maori warriors.

"I have said I think it is inevitable that at some point New Zealand will become a republic," the prime minister said in the interview afterwards.

"I don't think it's imminent. There's scarcely even a debate on it but at some point New Zealand will take the step of having a head of state domiciled here and I think it's an entirely understandable move."

She warned: "It won't be a quick or easy debate."

Asked whether the chance of Charles becoming New Zealand's head of state were slight, she said: "That depends on the time frame. These things don't happen quickly. It needs to be

something that people want."

She added: "I guess a lot of New Zealanders are reasonably laid back about the constitutional status of the country.

"They're inclined to think 'If it ain't broke, Don't fix it'."

Asked about the public's reaction to Charles's tour, Ms Clark said the visit was not like the early 1950s, when the country was a remote society and royal trips were "a very, very great event".

She added: "The Queen is of course the head of state in New Zealand and Prince Charles will be head of state for New Zealand if New Zealand continues its constitutional monarchy, so it's important that the people of New Zealand see something of him."

Playing down the republican issue, she added: "It doesn't keep me awake at night. It's not something that I can personally work up a great deal of excitement (about)."